TikTok sues US government to block law that could ban app

It argues law violates right to free speech; issue likely to end up in Supreme Court

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WASHINGTON - TikTok sued the US government on May 7 over a new law that would force its Chinese owner, Byte Dance, to sell the popular social media app or face a ban in the United States, stoking a battle over national security and free speech that is likely to end up in the Supreme Court.

TikTok said the law violated the First Amendment by effectively removing an app that millions of Americans use to share their views and communicate freely. It also argued that divestiture was "simply not possible", especially within the law's 270-day timeline, pointing to difficulties such as Beijing's refusal to sell a key feature that powers TikTok in the US.

"For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than one billion people worldwide," the company said in a 67-page petition, which initiated the lawsuit.

"There is no question: The Act will force a shutdown of TikTok by Jan 19, 2025." Tik Tok is battling for its survival in the US, with the fight set to play out primarily in courts over the next few months. The battle pits Congress' national security concerns about the app's ties to China against TikTok's argument that a sale or ban would violate the First Amendment free speech rights of its users and hurt small businesses that owe their livelihood to the platform.

The issue is particularly tricky in an election year when President Joe Biden and lawmakers are facing potential blowback from users of the popular app.